The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-01-21
GARisETTS MANSION.
Personal Gossip About the President OF
the Baltimore aud Ohio.


President Robert Garrett, of the,Bal-
timore and Ohio railroad, has resumed
command of his mighty array of clerks
and employees. During his sojourn in
Europe last summer he tleshcd up con-
sIdcrably and has added some fifteen
or twenty pounds to his already gener-
Gus display of corpulence. Mr.. Gar
rett's residence on Mount Vernon place
is still under the artisans hands. The
grand portico, over which the railroad
magnatc and his next-door neighbor,
Henry James, have had such II lengthy
legal contest, has been entirely changed.
Mr.. Garrett spent about $4,000 in his
legal fight, and the cost of the present
elaborate changes is about $4,000. The
elegant interior work has also been
changed and the decorations made finer
than before. The sO-called Garrett
coat-of-arms, which. carved in brown
stone, adorned the front of the portico,
has been removed, and the broad space
of the poT'tico is now of stained glass.
specially imported for the purpose.
MIR. CARROTS new mansion is certainly
the finest in the city, excepting. per-
haps, the old Winans mansion, but high
walls surround the latter, because of the
objection of the Methodist preachers to
the nude statuary that adorns the lawn
in front of the house.
Refreshed by his ocean trip, Mr.. Gar
rett returns more than ever determined
TO fight tho Pennsylvania for the lattcr's
New York and Philadelphia business to
the west. Robert Garrett is decidedly
more aggressive than his father was.
John w. Garrett was probably tho
slOwest and most conservative of the
railroad leaders of this country. His
son, however, IS far-rcaching and de-
termincd to extend the lines in every
direction, no matter what tho cost or
opposition.
Mr.. Garrett is worth about SO, 900. 900,
and the bulk of his fortune is invested
in the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and
telegraph enterprises. The telegraph is
pet idea of CARROTS, and he is de-
termined to fight Gould and the West
ern Onion, even at the risk of millions.
Mr.. CARROTS personal appearance
does not Indicate his real character.
He is q handsome man, though his face
Is just little too full and rounded, and
of rather boyish cast He has cul-
tivated an English air. which is the
most Objectionable thing about him.
Dress is with MIR. Garrett n highly i'm
portant consideration. As matter of
fact he possesses over fifty suits Of
clothes, many of which were made in
Paris and London. Prominent tailors
in each of these cities keep his measure
and furnish him with clothes of the
latest cut Reports have been circulated
that Mr.. Garrett sits in his Office and
telegraphs dispatches of from five hun
dred to five thousand words directing
his New York tailor how to make his
clothes. These stories are nonsense.
Nearly all of Mr.. CARROTS clothes are
made abroad. He Is fond of horses,
though not n patron of the turf 10 any
extent The carriage that he likes best
is an open victoria, surmountcd by a
coachman and footman. His victoria
was purchased in England. A pecu-
liarly pleasant feature of Mr.. CARROTS
appearance is tho sprig of violets that
adorns the lapels of his coat. summer
or winter. rain or shine. Violets are
cultivated in the Garrett Conservatives
for the express purpose of adjoining the
railroad kings coat, and spgig of the
fragrant flowers is placed beside his
breakfast plate every morning.
Mr.. Garrett is popular with everyone
with whom he is brought in contact.
Whenever he visits the shops at Cum
berland or Mount Clare he shakes hands
with the old employees with whom he
was acquainted when boy and ac-
companying his father on the prcsi-
dental tours of inspection. He goes
frequently to the theaters, and is fond
of books He has n splendid library.
He gives literally to charitable institu-
tions. When travelling on railroad
business he pays half his own expenses,
very remarkable thing for railroad
magnate 10 do. He has three private
secretaries, and when he travels abroad
he always takes one of these young men
with him.. The secretaries are as
stylish in their attire as their employer,
excepting that they do not have so
many suits of clothes. He gives them
handsome presents, and they are the
most literally paid of any Of the COM
pahy's employees, IN comparison with
their respective worth. One Of the SEQ
rctaries hns made considerable money